Photographic camera with readily removarle curtain-shutter unit



June 13, 1950 2,511,157

A. H. GOREY PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA WITH READILY REMOVABLE CURTAIN SHUTTER UNIT Original Filed Oct. 25, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 60 a TNVENTOR.

(HYC4ZLZGH Gorey REV/2Q F M A. H. GOREY PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA WITH READILY June 13, 1950 REMOVABLE CURTAIN SHUTTER UNIT Original Filed Oct. 23, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 lad HF lflll ihdl INVENTOR.

June 13, 1950 A. H. GOREY 2,511,157

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA WITH READILY REMOVABLE CURTAIN SHUTTER UNIT Original Filed Oct. 23, 1945 9 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTOR. cfliwfizellaorcq, BY A K (flags.

June 13, 1950 A. H. GOREY PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA WITH READILY REMOVABLE CURTAIN SHUTTER UNIT Original Filed Oct. 23, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 A. H. GOREY PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA WITH READILY REMOVABLE CURTAIN SHUTTER UNIT 9 Shee ts-Sheet 5 'INVEN TOR. eflPcFweH (i0 2'05 June 13, 1950 Original Filed Oct. 23, 1945 i 5 my mmv N, m6 #9 m? June 13, 1950 A. H. GOREY 2,511,157

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA WITH READILY REMOVABLE CURTAIN SHUTTER UNIT Original Filed Oct. 23, 1945 '9 Sheets-Sheet 6 GOREY 2,511,157

9 Sheets-Sheet 8 & i w z 0 0 r a a N 2 Q 9 a 9 T. NHZ M n m I G I I O 9 v 5% @1 it M 1 m L n 1 3 r a n a a Y B a 5 m A. H. PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA WITH READILY REMOVABLE CURTAIN SHUTTER UNIT June 13, 1950 Original Filed 00x. 23, 1945 June 13, 1950 A. H. GOREY PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA WITH READILY REMOVABLE CURTAIN SHUTTER UNIT 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Original Filed Oct. 23, 1945 INVENTOR.

dZZ'ChIJeH 60mg BY lfs ev 30 Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFHIE 2,511,157 PHOTOGRA-IHIC cAMEmi-wrrn READILY REMOVABLE CURTAIN-SHUTTER UNIT Archie a. Gorey, Rochester, far, as'sigii'orto Graflex; Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application October 2%, 19:46, Serial No. 623,913. Divided and this application July 24, 1947, Serial N0. 763,404 I This application is division A' of my copend' ing application Ser. No. 623,913, filed October 23, 1945.

This invention relates to a new and improvedphotographic camera with a; readily-removable curtain-shutter'unit, and to such removable unit, as well as to certain features of such removable unit.

In order that the principleoftlie ln'ventioirrna'y be-readily understood, I have'disclosed' a single embodiment thereof inthe accompanying drawings-,wherein- 1 is a side elevation of the camera partlv in verticalsection, to show the magazineist'ruu ture', the placement of the'motots and thelens mounting structure;

Fig. 2 is a vertical-section through'the'camera body in the magazine, showing thepositlon' of the film spools, the camera drive motors; the film idler roll, the film measurlng'roll, the'foca'l plane shutter and the capping curtain, the shutter being in condition for making an exposure;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the removable "shut ter shown removed from the camera, both the shutter curtain and the capping curtain'b'ein'g shown and the mechanism being-in condition for making an exposure;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail, partly sectioned respecting the right-hand end of the shutter mechanism viewing Fig. 3, and showing the shut-- ter speed control mechanism; Fig. 5 is a. partial end elevation of the camera body showing the main shutter plate and Iatching means for locking the shutter mechanism into the camera, and showing the exposure counter:

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail in longitudinal section of one of the shutter curtain tension rollers,

Fig. 7 is a right-hand end view of the-shutter' mechanism viewing Fig. 3, and showing-the shu't ter mechanism in condition for making an exposure;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of Fig;

ing in the capping condition just asthe cappingcurtain is released to run down to open condi-' tion;

Fig. 11 is a right-hand end view of Fig.

. Fig. 12 is atop plan view of Fig.- 10, with some 55 '8. sunshade tube 28 The- IO'CI'aimS. (Cl. 95-57) 2. o'ftl ie partsremoved to show the construction of insomnia rewi'ndgears';

13 a view similar to Fig. 10, with the curtaiiigear and" pinion removed so as more'clear'ly tosl'io'wthe-structure of the capping curtain-rewind mechanism:

Fig. 14 is a detail of the shutter release'lever and the shutter rewindgear dog; v

Fig. 15 is" a horizontal section of Fig. 10, taken onthe line l 5 l 5 of Fig. 19,-toshow the driving connection between the capping curtain rewind ar. dfih hatt r a wind e r Fig. 17 is aleft-hand end view orFig. 1, the lens cone being removed to show the shutter locking;! 1 1ech anism; V

181s a section through Fig. 17 on the line l8 l8thereof; v g

ig. 19 is an enlarged detail of the exposure counter operating mechanism; and

Fig. 20 is a horizontal section through the camera showing the safety switch operating mechanism.

The camera herein disclosed is novel in its design and mechanical construction, in hat it is fabricated from sheet metal, using most modern methods of fabrication of these materials. This makes for very-high speed production and when built in reasonable quantities permits very low production cost.

Among the objects of the invention are: to provide an automatic motordriven camera having a. completely removable curtain-shutter assemblv; to"'piovid'e 'such readilv and completely removable curtain-slfiitteressemblv; to provide camera having. an improved automatic capping curtain; and"toprovide'a camera having automatic means to"pi'evenft release of thecamera shutter when the sHutt'ei-is' iii the c'a'pped'condition. Other novel fa'turesof the camera will be evident from the ensuingdescriptiori.

Referi-ing' 1 r'1ore particular-1v to the drawings, and'firstto'Fig. 1 showing a large planview of the invention with certain parts broken away, the

- c'alniris' made up of the 'following basic parts.

'rnepamerrwavis'shawh at'ZO, the'lens cone at 2T, anti the camera suppoitat 22. The lens was: lfand th' support ring 22 are secured to the canfrabody by'means -of screws '23, 23. Threaded intoa'neck' 24- the lens cone 2| is alone barrel 25- carrying-the usual photographic lens Attached lens cone 2i and extending therefrom ls a cylindrical'membe'rzfi fastened to said median 11' by rivets 21, 21. Fitted over the o5- a lens barrel 25 is fitted with the usual diaphragm adjusting ring 29, and attached to said ring and extending therefrom is a member 30 having a knob 3i extending through a slot 32 in the cylindrical member 26.

Attached to the camera body 20 is a junction box 33 carrying a fuse block 34, fuse clips 35, 35 and a fuse 36. A safety switch, to be subsequently referred to in more detail, is also carried in the junction box 33 and is indicated at 31. The said junction box 33 is equipped with an insulated block 38 having bus bars 33, 40, 4I. A cross bar 42, attached to the bus bar 4| by rivets 43, 43, constitutes a switch for operating the camera. The said cross bar 42 is equipped with a contact 44 and the bus bar 39 is equipped with a contact, shown in dotted lines and indicated at 45. Said cross bar 42 is also provided with an insulated operating button 46.

Attached to the right-hand end of the camera body 23 is a mechanism-housing indicated at 41, to which are attached motors 48, 49, to be referred to in detail subsequently. A magazine cover has for its purpose to enclose the sensitized material and to enclose suitable supports and driving and measuring means for said sensitized material.

The shutter assembly or unit The shutter of the camera is of nove1.ccnstruction. One of the main features thereof allows the shutter assembly or unit in its entirety to be removed from and to be replaced in the camera without disturbing any of the camera mechanism. This is a very important development for cameras used in the armed forces of the United States, in that it permits the rapid substitution of a new shutter, either for the purpose of replacing a damaged shutter or for the purpose of equipping the camera with a shutter having other characteristics than the one removed.

There will now be described the construction of the shutter and its application and relation to the other parts of the camera, and in so doing reference will be made to Figs. 2 to 13, and first to Figs. 2 and 3.

In Fig. 3 the shutter structure is shown as removed from the camera for any purpose. In Fig. 2, the shutter assembly unit or housing is shownin position within the camera structure.

The shutter assembly, unit or housing, which may be of thin sheet metal, is made up of a base plate I25 having an upstanding member I26 on that end which is shown nearest the top of the sheet in Fig. 3, and is subsequently referred to for convenience of description as the upper end. Said assembly, unit or housing has a second or lower upstanding end I21 at the opposite end of the said base plate I25. Said upper and lower upstanding end members I26 and I21 form vertical walls between which are mounted the shutter curtain rolls.

The shutter itself, as best shown in Fig. 2, is made up of two curtains, namely. a capping curtain I28 and a shutter curtain I29, the former having an aperture I30 constituting an opening slightly greater than the opening I3I in the shutter base plate or member I25. The shutter curtain I29 is provided with an aperture I32 which is relatively narrow, the width depending upon the shutter speed desired. In the disclosed embodiment, to which the invention is not restricted, there is provided an aperture approximately of an inch in width, thus allowing a shutter speed of /500 and 1000 of a second.

The capping curtain I28 is wound at one end on the shutter curtain take-up roll I 33 and at its outer end on the tension roll I34. The shutter curtain I29 is wound at one end on the shutter curtain rewind roll I35 and at its other end on the shutter curtain tension roll I 36. The shutter capping curtain roll I33 is provided with a shaft I31 passing through a suitable bearing in the lower upstanding end member I21. The opposite end of the capping curtain roll I33 is provided with a shaft I38 that passes through a suitable bearing in the upper upstanding member I26. To the shaft I38 there is fastened in any suitable manner a pinion I39. The shutter curtain rewind roll I35 is also provided on its lower end, viewing Fig. 3, with a shaft I40 that is fitted into a suitable bearing in the lower upstanding member I21. The said shaft I40 also extends through a. suitable bearing in the upper upstanding member I26. To the upper end of said shaft I40, viewing Fig. 3, is attached a pinion HI and to its lower end is attached a retard ratchet I42, referred to more fully subsequently.

The capping curtain tension roll I34 is provided with a shaft I43, the lower end whereof, viewing Fig. 3, passes through a suitable bearing in the lower upstanding member I21. The upper end of the said shaft I43 is provided with a bearing I44 in an extension I45 of the said upper upstanding member I26. The said shaft I43 is also provided with a pinion I46 meshing with a capping curtain gear I41 carried on a shaft I48 and keyed thereto by a pin I48a. The lower end of said shaft I48, Fig. 3, rides in a bearing I50 in the lower upstanding member I21. The function of said shaft will be referred to more fully subsequently.

The shutter curtain tension roll I36 is provided with a shaft I5I, the lower end whereof is fitted into a suitable bearing carried by the lower upstanding member I21. The upper end of the said shaft I5I is carried in a suitable bearing fitted to an extension I52 integral with the upper upstanding member I26.

The tension rolls The construction of the tension rolls, which are substantially identical, will next be described, ref erence being made to Fig. 6, wherein is shown the tension roll I34. As there shown, it is formed as a preferably metallic tube, and to the left-- hand end thereof is fitted a bearing member I 53 having a suitable hole for the shaft I43. To the right-hand end of the said tube I34 is fitted a bearing plate I54 through which said shaft I43 passes and to which shaft is attached the pinion I46, as already stated. Secured to the shaft I43 is a coiled tension spring I55, the left-hand end whereof is fastened to the bearing plate I53. Also secured to the shaft I43 is a tension spring- I56 to the right-hand end whereof is attached said bearing plate I54.

Heretofore for similar structures constituting tension rolls for focal plane shutters, one spring only has been used so far as I am aware, and inasmuch as the over-all length of such spring changes when winding the curtain shutter, a thrust was necessarily always introduced into the assembly. In the disclosed construction, which I believe to be broadly novel for the purpose, the spring is split up into a plurality of units, preferably two, and is stretched a distance equal to the spring elongation when fully wound. Thus the shaft I43 is always held in a central position within the tube or roll I34 and no end thrust is ever imparted to the shaft I43. This construction provides a smoother running shutter and eliminates one of the most annoying variables that has heretofore always existed in focal plane shutters so far as I am aware.

The shutter mechanism Referring again to Fig. 3, the lower end of the shutter assembly, unit or housing is there shown as provided with a second or cover plate I49 attached to the lower upstanding member I21 by suitable screws I49a, I 49a and spaced therefrom by spacer members I 59a, I50a. Carried by the cover plate I49 is a locking mechanism which is indicated generally at I5Ia and which will be more specifically described subsequently. There is also carried by the cover plate I49 an exposure counter I52a, the dial I 53a whereof is shown mostclearly in Figs. 5 and 17, being visible through an opening I54a of the said cover plate I 49.

Reference will next be made to the shutter operating mechanism, shown in Figs. 7 to 15.

Referring first to Fig. 7, an end view of the shutter structure is therein represented as removed from the camera structure and the arrangement of the operating parts is therein clearly evident. In Fig. 7, the shutter is shown as in a wound-up condition ready for making an exposure, the capping curtain I28 having just previously been allowed to run down, thus uncovering the exposure aperture.

The shutter parts will therefore be in the condition shown in Fig. 10, wherein the pinion I39 meshes with the capping curtain rewind gear I 55a, and the pinion I4I meshes with the shutter curtain rewind gear I55a. The capping curtain rewind gear I 55a and the shutter rewind gear I 56a are both mounted on a stud I51 which is securely attached to the upper upstanding member I26 of the shutter assembly, unit or housing. The said stud I51 has a reduced diameter at the left of the upper upstanding member I26, view ing Fig. 3, and upon which the rewind gears I55a and I5I5a are free to rotate. Also carried by the extending shaft portions of the stud I51 are spacing washers I58, I59.

The assembly, consisting of the shutter rewind gears I55a and I56a and the spacing washers 158, I59, is held to the stud I51 by a, retainin screw I65. Secured to the capping curtain rewind gear I55a is a cam block and capping curtain gear stop, shown in dotted lines at I6I, being secured by rivets I62, E62. Also secured to the capping curtain rewind gear I551: is a driving stud I63, and attached to the curtain rewind gear I56a is a switch operating pin I54 and a shutter curtain stop pin I65. To the shutter curtain rewind gear I56a a shutter release dog and curtain rewind drive member I65 is attached by a rivet I61 and by a projection 166 of the switch operating pin I64.

The outer end of the capping curtain shaft I38 and the outer end of the shutter curtain shaft I48 are supported by an out-board bearing bracket, indicated at I69 in Figs. 7 and 11. The said bearing bracket I69 is fastened to the upper upstanding member I26 of the shutter assembly, unit or housing by screws I10 and HI. The said bearing bracket I69 is spaced from the upper upstanding member 1'26 by a suitable bushing I12. Also secured to the said upper upstanding member I26 is a stop plate I13, shown in full lines in Fig. 11 and in dotted lines in Figs. 8 and 9. The

said stop plate I13 is secured to the said upper upstanding member I26 by rivets I14, I14. Also fastened to the said upper upstanding member I26 is a bushing I 15 through which passes a shaft I16, shown in Figs. 10 and 12. To one end of said shaft I16 there is attached a release pawl or latch member I11 engaging a, notch I18 of the shutter release dog and curtain rewind drive member I66. To the oposite end of the shaft I16 a spacing collar I19 'is secured by a pin I having an end extension I8I to which is hooked a spring I82, the opposite end whereof is attached to a pin I83 on the upper upstanding member I26. The purpose of the spring IE2 is to cause the shutter release pawl or latch member I11 to be rotated in acontraclockwise direction viewing Fig. 1-0. The said shutter release pawl or latch member is provided with a turned-in end I84, best shown in Fig. 11.

In Figs. 2 and I, the capping curtain I28 and the shutter or aperture curtain I29 are shown in their relation to the shutter rewind gears. In both of said figures, the shutter is shownin a rewound condition ready for making an exposure, the capping curtain I29 having been previously released and allowed to run down to an open condition. The shutter or aperture curtain I29 'is held ready for making an exposure. The mechanism will be in the condition shown in Fig. 3.

Shutter speed changing mechanism Reference will now be made particularly to Figs 3, 4 and 17.

It is often desirable to provide more than one shutter speed when using a curtain having a single fixed aperture, as in the present disclosure of the invention. In accordance with my invention, this result is accomplished by changing the speed of the shutter curtain rewind roll I35 through the use of a. retarding mechanism, most clearly shown in Fig. 4. To the lower end of the shaft I40, viewing Fig. 3, is attached the retard ratchet wheel I42, as previously stated, and to the upstanding member I21 of the base plate I25 a plate 236 is fitted by screws 231, 231.

Upon said plate 236 is pivotally mounted, by a screw 235a a pawl or escapement support member 238 carrying an escapement pawl 239 pivoted on a shoulder rivet 240 and free to oscillate thereon. The opposite end of the pawl or escapement support member 233 is provided with a button 24I passing through an opening 24-2 of the shutter cover I49.

When the mechanism is in the condition shown in Fig. 4, the ratchet wheel I42 will be retarded by the escapement pawl 239 and will cause the shutter curtain to run at a speed that will produce an exposure of /500 of a second. When the button 24I is moved in an upward direction to the position shown in Fig. 17, the escapement pawl 239 is withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet wheel I42, thus allowing the shutter curtain rewind roll I35 to run free, and under such condition an exposur speed of 1000 of a second will be obtained, as is indicated in Fig. 17.

Interlocks, circuit control and counter mechanism The several interlocks including the circuit diagram will now be described, reference being made to Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 16 to 20.

As previously stated, the shutter mechanism is readily removed from the camera body 20 as a unit, and when removed appear as shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. is a fragmentary showing of the shutter unit in place in the camera. In order to lock the shutter unit securely in position in the camera, there is provided a lock having a shutter operating handle 32I, shown in Figs. 5, l7 and 18. In Fig. 5, the shutter unit operating handle 32I is shown in an upstanding or operating position, and in a folded position in Figs. 17 and 18, being also shown in its operating position in dotted lines, Fig. 18. The said shutter handle 32I is ivoted to a stud 322, Fig. 18, by a pin 323. The said stud 322 is fitted into a suitable bushing 324 of the previously described shutter upright member I21.

Attached to the right-hand end of the stud 322 is a locking member 325 held to the stud 322 by a lock washer 326 and a nut 321, and attached to the said locking member 325 is a shoulder stud 328 held thereto by a nut 329 and fitted to the reduced diameter of the said shoulder stud 328 is an arm 330. The inner end of the shoulder stud 328, being the left-hand end thereof viewing Fig. 18, forms a. detent 33I engaged by a detent spring 332 when the locking member 325 is in locked condition.

Fitted to the upper wall 333 of the camera body 20 is a latch plate 334, and fitted to the lower wall 335 of the camera body is a second latch plate 336. The said latch plate 334 is held in place by rivets 331, 331, and the latch plate 336 is held in place by rivets 338, 338. When the handle 32| is in the operating position shown in Fig. 5, the locking member 325 is disengaged from the latch plates 334 and 336. The entire shutter unit or assembly can then be removed by sliding it from the camera body. When the handle 32I is in the position shown in Fig. 17 and full lines in Fig. 18, the locking member 325 engages the latch plates 334 and 336, thus securely locking the shutter unit in place in the camera casing. The arm 330 is provided with a flat hook-like formation 339, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 17 and in full lines in 20, and it is held in position and guided by studs 34!] and 34!, most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 20.

Referring now more especially to Fig. 20, and also to Fig. 3, pivotally attached to the shutter base plate I is a switch operating arm 342, being pivoted on a shoulder stud 343 and held thereto by a retaining screw 343a. The said switch operating bar 342 is provided with a projecting finger 344 for engaging the switch operating button 345 of the safety switch 31. The opposite or left-hand end of the switch operating arm 342, viewing Fig. 20 is provided with a hook-like formation 346 engaged by the hook-like formation 339 of the arm 33!! when the shutter lock member 32I is turned to the unlocked condition shown in Fig. 5.

This will cause the circuit through the said safety switch 31 to be broken, thus interrupting the circuit through that safety switch, and inasmuch as the said safety switch 31 is in the main camera circuit, the camera will be rendered inoperative when the circuit is in the interrupted condition. As the lock handle 32I is turned in a contraclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 17, the arm 330 will be moved to the right, thus allowing the switch operating arm 342 to be moved in a downward direction, viewing Fig. 20, by spring 341, one end of which is fixed to the said switch operating arm 342 and the opposite end thereof to a pin 348 securely attached to the shutter base member I25,

Also attached to the upstanding wall or member I21 of the base plate I25 of the shutter unit is a pin 349 acting as a stop for the shutter lock member 325 when the latter is turned in a contraclockwise direction to lock the camera shutter unit in .place in the camera casing. When in this condition, the circuit to the said safety switch is completed and the camera can then be operated. Also attached to the cover plate I49 by means of screws 350, 350 is the counter I53 perviously referred to.

Attached to the right-hand end of the said counter I53, viewing Fig. 5, is a counter operating member 351, shown in full lines in Fig. 19. The said counter operating member 35I is attached to a shaft 352 of said counter I53 and is locked thereto by a screw 353. Attached to the shaft I48, as shown in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1, is a bell crank member 354, Fig. 19, having attached thereto a counter operating finger 355 that acts upon the counter operating member 35! each time the shutter is operated, thus providing accurate means for counting the number of exposures made by the camera. The opposite end-of the said bell crank latch member 354 is provided with a hook-like member 356 engaged by the hook-like formation 339 of the arm 33!! when the shutter lock is in the unlocked condition shown in Fig. 5.

The purpose of this arrangement is to cause the said shaft I48 to be rotated slightly clockwise, viewing Fig. 5, thereby to move the cam block 338 out of engagement with a switch operating bar, when the shutter unit is in the unlocked condition in the shutter casing, since if this were not done, it would be impossible properly to put the shutter in operating position in the camera casing, inasmuch as the reverse L formation 381 would interfere with the cam block 358. Therefore, the said cam block 308 is moved out of position suificiently far so that it will not be interfered with by the said reverse L formation 301. The shutter unit can then be moved to the operating position and, when locked in place in the camera casing, the shaft I48 will be allowed to rotate into its normal position.

Camera electrical circuit In Fig. 16 is shown a circuit diagram of the camera and its operating connections.

The :battery supplying the electrical current to the camera is shown at 351, and a cable is represented at 358 connected with the camera body 20 by means of a strap 359 and terminating in the junction box 33. The cable 358 is made up of four wires, of which the wire 36!! connects with the positive terminal of the battery 351. The opposite end of said wire 360 is connected to a screw 36| of the fuse 36. A second wire 362 of the cable 358 is connected with the negative side of the battery 351 and also with one side of the operating switch 363 and a signal lamp 364. The said wire 362 is connected at its opposite end with a terminal screw 355 of the bus bar 38. A third wire 366 of the cable 358 has one end connected to the signal lamp 364 and the opposite end to a screw 310 of the bus bar 40. The fourth wire 3 of the cable 358 is connected at one end with the operating switch 363 and at its opposite end to a. terminal screw 312 of the bus bar 4I.

Also shown in the circuit diagram is a heater 313 having a thermostat control 314 to provide normal operating temperature in the camera at all times. This heater, per se, is not a part of the present invention and is not claimed herein.

Connecting with the terminal screw 315 of the fuse 35 is a wire 36!, the opposite end whereof is connected to the terminal on the safety switch 37. To the opposite side of the said safety switch is connected a wire 311, the opposite end whereof is connected to a terminal 318, connected to which is a wire 319 connecting to the film feed solenoid 28.9. Connectxl to the said wire 319 is a wire 389 connected to the shutter trip magnet 198 through a short Wire 3801: and to the shutter clutch magnet 223 through a short wire 38!, and. to the motor 49 through a short wire 382 and also to the motor 68 through a short wire 383. The wire 388 is also connected with the thermostat 314.

' Connected with the terminal 384 is a wire- 385 connected to a wire 386, one end of which is connected to the shutter switch I92 and the opposite end is connected to the heater resistance 3-13. Connected to the terminal 381 is a wire 388 that is itself connected to the signal switch 319. Connected to the terminal 389 is a wire 390 that is connected to one end of the film switch 55. The opposite end of the said film switch has a wire 39| connected to the shutter switch magnet I98. Connected to the shutter switch [92 is a wire 392. that is connected to one terminal of the film clutch switch 3ft. and said switch and the wire 392 are also connected with the shutter clutch magnet 225 through a short wire 393, and to the motors 48 and 49 through wires 394 and 395. The film feed magnet 289 has a wire .396 connected thereto, the opposite end of which wire is connected to the film clutch switch 3l6. Connecting the said switch 316 and one endv of the signal switch 319 is a short wire 397.

The removable shutter unit or assembly I have described the shutter unit or assembly as insertible into and removable from the camera casing as a unit. This feature has numerous advantages among which are ready accessibility to the shutter mechanism for the purpose of making repairs or for the substitution of a different shutter unit and also simplicity of construction of the entire camera and also facilitating the assemblage of the parts of the camera when building the same.

Referring particularly to dotted lines in Fig. 1 and to Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 18, it will be understood that a lateral wall of the camera casing, being the left-hand wall viewing Fig. 1, has an open ing therein, into or through which the shutter unit or assembly is slid into position. Viewing Fig. 2, showing among other parts the shutter unit in transverse section, it will be evident that the said unit is removed from the camera casing by sliding it toward the observer viewing said figure; that is to say, the said shutter unit. is slid, in order to withdraw it from the camera casing, in a direction which is downward in Fig. 3, and which is toward the left viewing Fig. 18, wherein are best shown two inner walls of the camera casing 333 and 335, which respectively have the latch plates 334 and 336 secured to their inner faces to receive the ends of the locking member 325 after the shutter unit has been slid inward (i. e. toward the right viewing Fig. 18) When the shutter unit has been slid into its functioning position, the locking member 325 is turned into the position shown in Fig. 18 by movement of the operating handle 32], so as to engage the 10 upper and lower ends of the locking member 325 with the latch plates 334 and 336,

As clearly described, the shutter unit or assembly is made up of the base plate I25 and the two upstanding end members I26 and 12'! of which the member [21 is shown in Fig. 18. All the parts of the shutter unit are received by and supported upon the said base plate I25 and the two upstanding end members I25 and (27. So far as I am aware, it is broadly new to provide a shutter unit or assembly readily removable from within the camera casing without disturbing the other parts of the camera, and this matter is claimed broadly by me. The shutter which comprises the main or essential part of the said removable unit or assembly is a focal plane shutter cons sting of an aperture or shutter curtain and a capping curtain, and the camera which is so equipped with a removable shutter unit or assembly is an automatic motor driven camera preferably adapted for making aerial photographs.

Having thus described one illustrative embodimerit of the invention, it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a descriptive and generic sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic, electric motor-driven, photographic camera having within the casing thereof an electric circuit for operating the camera parts, said circuit including said motor and also including magnets for controlling shutter-operating members and also including a safety switch, the said camera having a wall of its said casing provided with an opening through which a complete shutter unit assembly may be slid into position and withdrawn therefrom, in combination with such shutter unit assembly having a focal plane shutter which, when said shutter unit assembly is in functioning position within the camera casing, is adapted to be operated through said electric circuit, the said circuit for that p r ing therein a safety switch that is mounted close to a wall of said inserted shutter unit assembly, means in said shutter unit assembly by which said shutter is operable only when a circuit is established through said safety switch, a lock carried by said shutter unit assembly and positioned to be manually operated and having a movable lockill-g member, and means moved by manual movement of said locking member to interrupt the circuit at said. safety switch when said locking member is moved manually into unlocking position preparatory to withdrawal of said shutter unit from the said camera casing, and to complete said circuit at said safety switch when the locking member is moved manually into locking position following insertion of said shutter unit within said camera casing.

2. An automatic, electric motor-driven photographic camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein said locking member is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon said shutter unit assembly, and wherein the shutter casing has cooperating formatlons to be engaged by the ends of' said locking member to lock said shutter unit assembly in place in said casing, said locking member having an arm mounted thereon, and a safety switch operating arm movably mounted in said shutter unit assembly and having a part which engages said safety switch, and thereby completes the circuit and thus render the said focal plane shutter operable, said safety switch 76 operating arm extending into the path of movement of the said arm mounted upon the locking member, whereby when the said locking mem-- ber is moved into unlocked position the safety switchoperating arm is moved to open said safety switch, thereby breaking said circuit.

3. A shutter unit assembly adapted to be slid into and out from position in a camera casing through an opening in a wall of said-casing, said shutter unit assembly having therein a focal plane shutter and having a lock provided with a locking member manually movable to engage a cooperating formation upon the camera casing, whereby the said shutter unit assembly is then looked in position in the camera casing, a movable safety-switch operating arm mounted in said shutter unit assembly and having a formation which, when said switch operating arm is moved in one direction by said locking member, engages a safety switch in the camera casing to close an electric circuit in said camera casing that controls the operation of said focal plane shutter of the said shutter unit assembly, the said switch operating arm extending into the path of movement of said locking member, so as to be operated by movement of said locking member to open said safety switch when the locking member is moved into unlocking position for removal of said shutter unit assembly.

, 4. A shutter unit assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein said movable'safetyrswitch operating arm has a spring acting thereon and tendingto move the said operating arm into safety-switch closing position.

'5. A shutter unit assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the said shutter unit .assembly is provided with a base plate and two parallel .spaced members upstanding therefrom, in which and constituting a part of said shutter unit as,

sembly.

6. A shutter unit assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the said shutter unit assembly is provided with a base plate and two parallel spaced members upstanding therefrom, and wherein curtain rolls for. an apertured curtainv and for a capping curtain constituting, the. focal plane shutter are mounted in the'said parallel spaced members,v and wherein retarding mechanism to change shutter speeds is carried by a shaft of one of said curtain rolls, and constituting a part of the shutter unit assembly.

7. A shutter unit assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the said shutter unit assembly is provided with a base plate and two parallel spaced members upstanding therefrom, and wherein curtain rolls for an apertured curtain and for a capping curtain constituting the focal plane shutter are mounted in the said parallel spaced members, and including a shutter curtain rewind roll, and wherein an escapement ratchet wheel is mounted upon an outer end of such rewind roll, and wherein a manually-operable cooperating pawl is carried by said shutter unit assembly and is positioned on a wall of said unit assembly to engage operatively with such escapement ratchet wheel. #1

8. A shutter unit assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the said shutter unit assembly is provided with a base plate and two parallel spaced members upstanding therefrom, in'which members rolls carrying the focal plane shutter are mounted, a cover plate also'upstanding from said base plate parallel to and slightly spaced from one of said two upstanding members, and an exposure counter carried by said cover plate and constituting a part of said shutter unit assembly, and wherein there is provided a counter operating member and a cooperating bell crank member to engage and operate said counter operating member. 1

9. A shutter unit assembly inaccordance with claim 3, wherein the said shutteifkunit assembly is provided with a base plate and twoparallel spaced members upstanding therefromf 'in which members rolls carrying the focal plane shutter are mounted, a cover plate also upstanding from said base plate parallel to and slightly spaced from one of said two upstanding members, and an exposure counter carried by saidcover plate and constituting a part of said shutter unit assembly, and wherein there is provided a counter operat ing member and a cooperating bellcrank member 1 to engage and operate said counter operating member, and wherein, when the said shutter'locbingmember is moved into unlocked condition; to permit withdrawal of saidunit assembly, itla cts to move said ball crank memberthatactsiupon said counter operating member.

10. Anautomatic, electric motor-i driven, T5110- tographic camera having within the casing thereof an electric circuit for operating the camera parts, said circuit including said motor andfialso including magnets for controlling shutter-operating member-sand also including a safety switch,;

the said camera having a wall of its said casing provided with an opening through wmenaeom plete shutter unit assembly may-be slid into position and withdrawn therefrom, in-combination with such shutter unit assembly having a focal plane shutter which, when said shutter unit as sembly is in functioning position within the camera casing, is adapted to be operated through said electric circuit, the said circuit for that purpose ARCHIE H. GOREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 313,677 Loeflier Mar. 10, 1885 1,075,751 Barberie Oct. 14, 1913 1,554,145 Foothora-p June 30, 1925 1,648,948 Johnson Nov. 15, 1927 1,700,082 Schemmel Jan. 22, 1929 1,707,849 Fairchild Apr. 2, 1929 1,963,095 Petit et al June 19, 1934 1,965,507 Meyers July 3, 1934 2,122,671 Leitz et a1 July 5, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,599 Great Britain of 1902 222,548 Great Britain Sept. 29, 1924 576,222 Great Britain Mar. 25, 1946 

